Responsibilities
The College's Instrument and Articles of Government (see the generic format at http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/furthereducation/) determine the duties and responsibilities of the Corporation. The Corporation is responsible for:
- determining the educational character and mission of the College and for oversight of its activities;
- approving the quality strategy of the institution;
- ensuring the effective and efficient use of resources, the solvency of the College and the Corporation and safeguarding assets;
- approving annual estimates of income and expenditure;
- the appointment, grading, suspension, dismissal and determination of the pay and conditions of service of the holders of senior posts and the Clerk;
- setting a framework for the pay and conditions of service of all other staff;
In order to undertake these responsibilities, Governors agree to the following:
- abide by the seven principles of Public Life (the Nolan principles) as follows:
Selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership - adhere to a Governors' Code of conduct - (click here to view Summary Code of Conduct)
- complete a register of interests form declaring any interest, financial or other, which might influence their judgment. The register is open to public inspection in the Clerk's office
- agree to attend a minimum number of meetings per year
- agree to assess their own performance and make recommendations for improvement
- undertake a programme of induction and training on becoming a new Governor and maintain a programme of training to meet their own training needs whilst a Governor
Conduct of business
In order to conduct its business effectively the Corporation meets as a full board at least 6 times a year including a residential meeting. Much of the work of Governors takes place in the Committees and Governors normally serve on at least one of the following committees:-
- Search and Development Committee: responsible for recruitment, induction and training of Governors
- Learning and Achievement Committee: responsible for setting and monitoring performance standards
- Finance and Resources Committee: responsible for financial, risk management and property issues
- Audit Committee: responsible for the financial and other controls operating in the college and for implementing the recommendations in audit reports
- Remuneration Committee: responsible for setting and monitoring the salaries of the senior post holders and the Clerk
The Corporation is assisted in its role on committees by the addition of an independent committee member
Ros Francis
Head of Finance and Corporate Services, Olympic Lottery Distributor: Member of the Audit Committee
Each of the independent committee members serves initially for a four-year period and, as with the Governors, is eligible for reappointment for a second term.
Each committee has its own terms of reference, which are approved and reviewed on a regular basis by the Corporation. A chair is appointed for each committee on an annual basis and all the committees are serviced by the Clerk who is an independent member of the College staff.
Confidentiality
The Governors are committed to openness and the majority of their papers and minutes are posted on this website or are available in the Learning Resource Centre (LRC) for staff, students and the public to read. However, there are some items that are considered confidential to the Board and College management:
- reports and minutes of the Remuneration Committee
- confidential personnel issues.
- any item relating to an individual member of staff or student
- monthly financial statements and management accounts
- financial information about the disposal or acquisition of major assets including land or property
- commercially sensitive information relating to contracts or which may assist competitors
- legal advice received from, or instructions given, to the College legal advisers
Meeting the needs of the community
The constitution and operation of the Corporation and the mix of Governors is reviewed regularly to ensure that it reflects the community it serves and is operating effectively to provide positive and responsive leadership for the college. Governors assess their own performance against established targets on an annual basis and the Corporation receives considerable feedback on the performance of the college from outside institutions, from students and from staff. Governors are expected to make strong reciprocal links within the community and to feed back external needs and aspirations from a wide range of sources.
Governors maintain an independent role, acting as critical friend to senior managers but not interfering with the day to day management, which they delegate.
The Clerk is the first person to contact if you want to find out more about the work of the Corporation or the role of Governor, are seeking further information, or if you wish to contact Governors. The address of the Clerk is:
Julia Kennedy, Clerk to the Corporation, Cambridge Regional College, Science Park Campus, Kings Hedges Road, Cambridge CB4 2QT
Telephone: 01223 418213
Email: jkennedy@camre.ac.uk
